Man Jailed After Setting Fire to His Flat and Endangering Neighbours While Under the Influence
A Port Talbot man has been sentenced to four years and four months in prison after deliberately starting multiple fires in his flat, then calmly watching television, drinking cider and snorting cocaine as smoke and flames filled the property. The dangerous and erratic actions of Nicholas Ronan, 42, left fellow residents—some vulnerable—at significant risk and caused damage valued at £60,000.
The incident, which led to emergency services being called to Parry Road, Port Talbot on the morning of 9 December last year, began when a member of the public heard glass smashing and saw a dumbbell being thrown from a ground floor window. Moments later, a woman rushed out of the block, crying for help and shouting, “He has lit a fire!” The drama immediately drew the attention of neighbours and passers-by, several of whom dialled 999 to alert emergency services of the blaze and the presence of a bed-bound elderly resident who was unable to evacuate on her own.
According to statements presented at Swansea Crown Court, when a witness approached the shattered window, he could feel the heat inside the flat. To his disbelief, Ronan was sitting unperturbed in the lounge, drinking Strongbow and apparently under the influence of cocaine, while flames burned elsewhere in the property. Rather than fleeing, Ronan simply remarked, “The ghosts are going to get me,” when prompted to leave the burning flat.
Emergency services attended the scene rapidly. A police officer entered the building, braving smoke and fire to bring the elderly woman and her carer to safety. Firefighters quickly contained and extinguished the fires before they could spread further. The scene outside was tense, as Ronan—now on the pavement holding the discarded dumbbell—ranted about ‘black ghosts’ and brandished threats towards emergency workers. He was reported to have menaced a firefighter who approached, threatening to ‘smash’ the officer if he came closer, and later threw the dumbbell at a policeman, further escalating the already precarious situation.
Police eventually detained Ronan, who explained during questioning that he had felt cold after a shower and had lit fires to warm up, before querying after the well-being of the elderly resident. An investigation by fire officers revealed that Ronan had started three separate blazes—behind the flat’s front door, in the kitchen, and on a chair in the living room. The cumulative damage to the Tai Tarian housing association property was substantial; extensive repairs valued at £60,000 were needed. Moreover, there was significant unrelated damage to the bathroom, compounding the costs.
During the sentencing, it was disclosed that Ronan has a history of criminal behaviour, having racked up prior convictions for offences including public disorder, theft, and a sexual crime. His defence, led by barrister James McKenna, offered some explanation for his actions, detailing Ronan’s use of a mixture of prescription drugs, illicit substances, and alcohol at the time. McKenna told the court that Ronan had become “disgusted” at his own behaviour after experiencing a period of sobriety while in custody. He further indicated that Ronan hoped to relocate from Port Talbot on his release to distance himself from negative influences.
Judge Paul Thomas KC, presiding over the case, underscored the seriousness of the crime, noting that Ronan had started the fires while knowing there were other residents in the building, including a bed-bound woman whose life was put in grave danger. The judge described the impact of the crime as incalculable, not only in terms of financial loss but also emotional trauma inflicted upon the community.
The court heard that psychiatric evaluations found Ronan fit to plead and be sentenced, despite his self-professed struggles with substance misuse and mental health. With reductions for early guilty pleas, Ronan was handed a combined sentence for arson, affray, and possession of an offensive weapon. He will serve at least two-thirds of his sentence before eligibility for release on licence.
This unsettling case has highlighted the complexities involved when drug misuse and mental health difficulties intersect with criminal behaviour and public safety. The exemplary actions of emergency services prevented what could have been a far greater tragedy, while the court’s sentence reflects both the gravity of the offence and the continued need for rehabilitation and safeguarding in the community.